Pakistani minister’s visit to Beijing comes at tricky time after China’s ‘terrorist’ declaration

Islamabad was upset by statement released at BRICS summit, but Sino-Pakistani ties unlikely to suffer in long run, expert says

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Workers arrange a banner featuring the Chinese and Pakistani flags ahead of a visit to Islamabad by China’s President Xi Jinping in 2015. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif is expected to arrive in Beijing on Friday. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00pm, 7 Sep 2017Updated: 10:31pm, 7 Sep 2017

Pakistan’s foreign minister is expected to begin his visit to Beijing on Friday, at what could be an awkward time for China, after Xi Jinping signed a leaders’ declaration at a recent summit of emerging economies that named Pakistan-based groups as terrorists.

Islamabad reacted strongly to the declaration, released at the conclusion of the summit between China, Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa, with its defence minister rejecting allegations that Pakistan was a safe haven for terrorists.

Before leaving Pakistan, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said his country would continue to face “embarrassment” if terror groups were not reined in. Photo: AFP

Despite the heated words, observers said the long-term relationship between China and Pakistan was unlikely to be damaged.

The contention surrounded the status of certain Pakistani militant groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. Islamabad has long rejected categorising them as terrorists, but the BRICS nations expressed concern at the “threat posed by terror groups, including those based in Pakistan”.